Velaphi: “Every game is crucial”

Melbourne City FC goalkeeper Tando Velaphi says the side will focus on the last six matches of the Hyundai A-League season ‘a week at a time’ as the gloveman prepares for Sydney FC on Friday night.

Although the keeper acknowledged the old cliche, Velaphi was adamant that his side have to take that approach if they are going to make the finals.

“Every game is crucial and we can't afford to drop too many points but our main focus is this week and that's all you can do,” Velaphi said.

“We’ve got a really important game this week, we have six games left and we can push into the finals. Every game is like a final to us and last week was great but this week is another challenge.”

That challenge for Velaphi and Melbourne City FC is the in-form Sydney FC at Allianz Stadium on Friday night and the keeper was wary of the attacking threat Graham Arnold’s men possess, in particular, Marc Janko.

“They’re in good form. We’ve come off a solid win as well and we’ll come into that game confident and look to get the points,

“They’ve been impressive and Janko is a quality player. They have plenty of attacking options but we’ll do our homework and make sure we hold up defensively.”

Defence has been a key for Melbourne City FC after the Asian Cup and Velaphi felt his side will needs to be on its game to stall the Sky Blues’

“We defend as a unit and we attack as a unit so everybody knows their roles and responsibilities as a team defensively and attacking wise,

“If we stick to our game plan and make sure we nullify their strengths and make sure our strengths come into fruition as well, then I think we’ll do well in the game.

“Our defensive set up starts from the top so we have worked hard to do that and will continue to do that. We just have to concentrate on what we can control.